I think I'm getting spoiled by special DVD sets. I have a lot of "complete series" sets and anniversary sets, and many of them are these massive, well put together sets that seem to be really complete and perfect. I'm thinking of sets that I own for such shows as The Twilight Zone, The West Wing, Friends, and The Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as season sets in shows like The X-Files and The Simpsons.

I say we're spoiled because I think that even die hard fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 might be a little disappointed by the packaging for their new 20th Anniversary DVD set (there's two actually - a limited edition tin box and a regular set; this review is for the limited edition box in the pic above). Not for the content, but for the way it is put together.

Fa la la!

We told you last month about the new 20th anniversary DVD set for Mystery Science Theater 3000 that is going to be released later this year. The gang announced the details and the release date for the set yesterday at Comic-Con.

The 4 DVD set from Shout! Factory will be released on October 28 and will include four never-before-released movies: Laserblast, First Space on Venus, Werewolf, and Future War. Along with the movies will be tons of new interviews with everyone ever involved in the show, a documentary about the history of MST3K, footage of the Comic-Con Reunion panel, lobby cards, and even a collectible Crow T. Robot figurine! The set will come in a special 20th anniversary tin box (see pic above).

What a very cool, very clever idea: commentary tracks you can download to your iPod (or other mp3 player) and listen to while you watch a movie in your own home!

RiffTrax is from the brain of Mike Nelson, host and head writer of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He'll do wiseass commentary tracks, a la MST3K, and you listen to them while you watch the movie he's talking about on your DVD player or on your computer. The first movie is Roadhouse, the (as Mike puts it ) "best movie ever made about a world-famous bouncer and his epic struggle with the evil owner of the local J.C. Penney." The site is in beta mode right now, so I'm not sure if the $1.99 price is permanent. He might have guests join him in future commentaries. Make sure you vote on which movie you'd like to hear a commentary for next (right now, The Matrix is in the lead, but I'd love to see it be Cocktail.)

[via Slashdot]